Washing-machine



L. 1. ST UKEY. WASHING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 192}- Patented 1m 13, 1921.

.2 SHEETS-SHEET A. JSVTU/IE) Jrro 5' ME UNITED sTArss PATENT OFFICE.

LAWSON J. STUKEY, OE PITTSBURG, KANSAS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Application filed May 17,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWSON J STUK-EY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Crawford and State of Kansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-"Wachines;and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as'will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same;

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and aims to providea novel and improved laundry appliance of that character for efficientlywashing clothes, fabrics, and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a washing machinehaving a basket adapted to be reciprocated within the tub or casing forthoroughly agitating the clothes and water to obtain anefiicient'cleaning action.

A further object is the provision of a novel basket of that kind forholding the clothes and agitating the water through them.

A still further object is the provision of novel actuating means forreciprocating the basket.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a plan view of the machlne, with the cover removed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4, portions beingshown in elevation and the top of the basket being removed.

Fig. 4: is a section on the line 44 of Fi 3, portions being broken away.

3. rectangular tub or casing 7 is provided of suitable size, which ispreferably supported on le s 8, and opposite handle bars 9 are securedto opposite walls of the tub at the rim thereof, and have handles 10projecting beyond the other side walls for con-- venience in lifting orcarrying the tub. A cover 11 is fitted on the rim of the tub toSpecification of Letters Patent.

to the frame.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921. 1931. Serial n 470,273.

prevent water from splashing therefrom when themachine is in operation.Disposed for vertical reciprocatory mo-.

tion inthe tub is a clothes basket 12 compris mg a suitable frame 13 andwire meshor screen side walls 14. having large openings for the readypassage of water therethrough. The bottom of the basket is composed of aset of parallel slats or bars 15 which are inclined transverselythereof,to form water deflectors. Said slats or deflectors 15 are spacedapart to provide slots between them for the upward and downward passageof water therethrough, anl the slats of thetwo halves are inclinedreversely, as seen in Fi 4.

he basket has a top or closure 16 fitted therein and composed of asuitable frame 16 and a wire mesh or screen panel 18. secured This top16 is adjustable in the basket, for holding the clothes within thebasket for vertical motion therewith. When the basket is full ofclothes, the top will be disposed adjacent to the rim of the basket,whereas tially filled, the top is pressed down until the clothes, whendry, support the top thereon. Vertical top-supporting bars 19 aresecured to opposite walls of the basket on the interior thereof, and thetop 16 has latches 20 engageable in apertures 21 provided in said bars,whereby the top can be secured in different vertical positions, each ofsaid bars having a series of such apertures, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4%.By adjusting the top in the basket according to the amount of clothestherein, the clothes are confined to the bottom portion of the basket,although they can be loose between the bottom and top, thereby avoidingthe undesirable relative vertical motion of the clothes and basket withrespect to one another beyond a slight amount to permit of the agitationof the clothes.

The basket is guided for vertical movement in the tub by means ofchanneled or grooved shoes 22 secured to opposite sides of the basket onthe exterior thereof and engaging vertical rails 23 secured to oppositeside walls of the tub on the interior thereof.

In order to move the basket up and down, a crank shaft 24 is journaledin bearings 25 secured to opposite walls of the tub 7 near the upperedges thereof, and said shaft has cranks 26 adjacent to said walls andconwhen the basket is only para of the tub nected by pitmen tom portionof the frame 13, so that the rotation of the shaft will impart verticalreciprocatory motion to the basket. A fly and balance wheel 28 issecured to one project- 29 at thatside of the shaft opposite to; thecranks 26, for balancing the mechanism. 7

The weight 29 substantially balances the basket and clothes therein,whereby the mechanism will operate easily and smoothly.

A pinion 30 is secured to the other projecting terminal of the shaft 24kat that side opposite to the balance wheel 28,

and is disposed within and meshes with an from the bars 19 and thetop 16of the hasket removed, the clothes can be readily placed inthe basket.The top 16 is then replaced within the basket and is permitted to settleon the clothes, and the latches are then engaged with the respectiveapertures 21 of the bars 19, thereby fastening the top in the basket.The water and soap arethen put in the tub,.and the cover 11 applied. Byrotating the wheel 31, the crank shaft will reciprocate the basket upand down with a fast motion, and the clothes are carried up and downwith the basket, thereby agitating the water and clothes for cleanorlinks 27 with the bot- 111 terminal of shaft 24:, and has a weightalthough it can serve as a pulley ing the clothes. The basket having itsside walls, top and bottomforaminous will per- "Unit the water topassthrough easily, so as to pass through the clothes. Furthermore,

the deflecting slats 15 will cause the agitation of the water, inasmuchas said slats will deflect the water toward and away from the center ofthebasket as the basket moves downwardly and upwardly, respectively.This will not only agitate the water, but also agitate and stir up theclothes in the basket. After the machine has been run a sufficienttimeto clean the clothes, theyare readily removed when the cover 11 andhasket top 16are removed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is V V 1. Awashing machine comprising a tub, and a clothes basket mounted forreciprocation in said tub and having a set of transversely-inclinedslats for deflecting the water during the reciprocation of the basketfor agitating the water and clothes within the basket. 7

2. A washing machine comprising a tub,

and a basket 'rnounted in thetub for vertical reciprocation and having.slats, at the,

bottom thereof, someofthe slats being in clined transversely in onedirectlon and the other slats being inclined transversely inanotherdirection for deflecting the'rwater during the reciprocation 'ofthebasket and agitating the water and clothes within said basket. Q i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. v

,LA WSOll J. STUKEY. Witnesses:

ANNA M. QUINN, MARY Z. Benson.

